Ephesians 4 From BK

April 23, 2014

Hey everyone, I am spending today fasting and preparing for a colonoscopy tomorrow at 11 am. I have to admit that I am a little bit concerned that the procedure may trigger some PTSD related flashbacks. So please be praying for me as the Spirit leads you? I was just sitting here wondering what I would blog about today and this message from my dear friend BK arrived in my mailbox. BK and her husband Ken have many years experience in totally free and open, Spirit led fellowship. They know how to flow in Christ without having a human leader dominate a gathering. Please read and enjoy her offering below?

Love and…..

Kirk Out !

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Hi, Chris, so enjoyed the latest post on your blog. Wanted to share something I put on paper on Ephesians 4 and see if you wanted to post any or all of it. Feel free to cut or change it in any way. And, if it’s just too long, that’s cool with me. That’s why I’m just sending it to you first. Love you, “BK”

A product of fellowship in Casper WY one night….

Ephesians4

We actually went back to 3:17 and started there…

(17) That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, (18) may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; (19) And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (20) Now unto Him Who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us (21) Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Eph. 4:1 “I therefore, [“therefore” ties it to the preceeding verses. This is why we went back a ways to see “therefore” what??],the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worth of the vocation wherewith ye are called[Question asked, What is vocation? What we do all the time. In the world, our “job” or occupation. Calling is not like the religious world makes it out to be, but the Greek word “invitation”….a much different perception than great and mighty position….]

4:2“…with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love“ [forbearing one another in love really struck us. To us this indicated much more than“put up with each other”, but, rather, forbearing IN LOVE i.e. not out of force, but willingness]

4:3“Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace….” [The word ENDEAVORING really stuck out. In other words, put forth the effort to keep not just unity, but unity of SPIRIT….keep the flow of what HE is saying and doing, not just being together in general. And, put forth the effort to do it in PEACE]

4:4-5 “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

4:6 “One God and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and in you all”

[Very important to all of us. The Father is above ALL, through ALL and in ALL. Not just a select group of “leaders”, but HE is the leader. Whoever He is speaking THROUGH of the “all” is at that moment ABOVE the all until that anointing moves on. The “Leader” abides in the ALL. We went to I John 2:18-28 where the context is written to LITTLE CHILDREN, not just the mature, that they have an anointing they can trust and follow. If the Teacher flows from someone to them, their Spirit will say “yes!” or “hmmmmmm, maybe not….”. It isn’t that we don’t respect those who teach, it’s that we listen for JESUS speaking through them and in us]

4:7“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ [EVERY ONE OF US a measure of the gift of Christ is given]

4:8“Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men[see vs. 1 (Paul was a prisoner to the law, he is now a prisoner of the Lord…captivity was led captive….as with all of us. “Gave gifts unto men”….see vs 7 and note that the word “men” is the Greek word for MANKIND, not male species.]

4:9-10 Because these verses are in parentheses we will deal with them after, keeping with the written subject that carries from vs 8 to vs 11

4:11And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers[Not too long ago I (“BK”) was thinking about this verse and the term so often applied to it “the five-fold ministry”. The Lord spoke and said, “There is no such term in the scriptures, nor does this verse infer any “special positions” in the church.” Then, later, Ken & I were discussing and he began to see five “categories” of anointing if you will, the Spirit flows through as He manifests through these gifts to the ALL. You will either be planting, speaking under the anointing ie prophesying; reaching out ie evangelizing; or shepherding and/or teaching. Although because of nature and personality, some may tend one direction or another more, nowhere does it say once you are “this” you always do it that way. Today you may plant, tomorrow you may teach, etc. We know this is a hard concept after 2,000 years of the concept of hierarchy, but as we research more and more we find it to be so]

4:12For the perfecting [Greek word for “completing”] of the saints, for the work of the ministry [ministry = dispensing, serving, NOT a POSITION. Like you push on a soap “dispenser” and it dispenses soap…],for the edifying of the body of Christ (the dispensing of Christ is what edifies the Body)

4:13Till we all [Paul includes himself in the “we”, not ‘you peons catching up with us in the five fold ministry’….it’s we and it’s ALL] come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:[The group I used to be in taught this coming to the fullness of Christ on the individual level for those who “make the Bride”. Since then I can clearly see Paul is speaking CORPORATELY here…the “all” arrive unto a “complete” man and the full measure of Christ is found every time we meet when all the gifts are freely flowing to build up the body]

4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive [When we are ALL able to fellowship, we receive personal revelation that will no longer leave us at the mercy of how good the teacher is, but how much the Spirit has borne witness within us]

4:15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things which is the head, even Christ [the anointing] (16) FROM WHOM THE WHOLE BODYfitly joined together and compacted by that whichEVERY JOINTsupplieth, according to theEFFECTUAL WORKING IN THE MEASURE OF EVERY PART, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love…

Ok….enough for now. It’s already pretty long. Lord, please quicken all our understanding together so we can understand as You speak and flow through every member, with You as the One legitimate head. I am so thankful, Lord.

It was pointed out that in Eph 4:17-19 a comparison was made of what it is like when the Spirit DOES NOT FLOW through the members. No feeling, no light, hardness of heart, vanity (vain, worthless) of human reasonings.

We lingered on vs22, what is corrupt according to deceitful lust? The literal for “corrupt” is rotten….we liked that…grin. Lust doesn’t have to be drugs, sex, alcohol, etc. For me, my former conversation would be have the family, grandkids, everyone around me. Being the stable rock, spiritual guru of the family…..or I’d throw caution to the wind and just be in Nashville , singing. BUT….even if my motives are good, heart means well….if it isn’t Christ, it is vain, corrupt and no life i.e. death.

vs 25 was special to us because it said speak truth every man with his neighbor “for we are MEMBERS ONE OF ANOTHER”. Isn’t that just deep? Not, put away lying because it’s bad, or wrong, or no one will believe you; but, because we be brethren! So much more strength in this. Not out of law but grace. Not works of the flesh, but fruit of the Spirit. Not by taking thought, but because of new nature.

vs26 Not, “don’t be angry”, but don’t let the anger take you, cause you to sin. Don’t go to bed seething and eating it. If you do, you give place to the devil to attack and win a battle.

vs 28 Not, don’t steal, you worthless bum…..but…..get a job so you can have to GIVE to them that need it. Not hoard it, not begin to accumulate THINGS now that your life is better and you’re not spending it on drugs & partying, but share with those who are in need as you once were. (We WEREN’T saying you can’t have material things…not off balance there)

vs 29 ‘corrupt communication’…..the obvious, swearing, off color, sexual innuendos. The less obvious, that which generates back to law, control, flesh. We loved the part “minister grace unto the hearers”…..still touches me to read it again.

vs 32 No longer, “if you don’t forgive, you won’t be forgiven” (that was spoken BEFORE the crucifixion, before ALL SIN, including unforgiveness, was paid for), but now ‘forgive one another as God for Christ’s sake HATH(ALREADY DONE) forgiven you.”

We were all so refreshed after the meeting. The Lord’s Spirit flowed abundantly. Oh! We also talked about vs 14 some more. It was so evident of that verse being in action last night. People weren’t solid because of Ken & “BK”s wonderful teaching and indoctrination. But they were SOLID IN HIM because as they fellowshipped and listened to each other and revelation lit WITHIN THEM and their understanding came from the Teacher within, anointing the words, adding them to each one. I am still enjoying the aftertaste….chewing the cud.

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prayed for you to be at peace in your colostomy, speak out, as the words come to mind, for the Lord loves to speak through you in being Father’s willing vessel Matt. 10:16-20 we are in the wolrd not of it Brother

Ch 2 discusses how the gentiles were called together with the Jews, and how all are built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, w/ Jesus the cornerstone, to become a place for God to live in the Spirit.

Ch 3 begins a prayer for them, which Paul interrupts with an explanation of his particular calling, which has to do with them.

He finishes his prayer at the end of ch 3, then launches into ch 4. The “therefore” at the beginning of ch 4 recalls how they are all being built into a single building (end of ch 2), and also encompasses his explanation of his role in establishing the gentiles in the building (1st 1/2 of ch 3).

The sum would be like this: “Since we’re all one building in God, don’t mess up the work of the Spirit by dragging your fleshly differences into the mix. But instead, use whatever gift the Spirit gave you to build up the body.”

(Note, in this regard, how he reprises the same idea in 4:17, telling them not to walk “as the GENTILES walk.” In other words, don’t go back to your fleshly default; stay in the Spirit. Never forget, the letter to the Ephesians is Jews writing to gentiles; recall how ch 1:3-12 is “we” (Jews,) 1:13 shifts to “and you also” (gentiles,) and ch 2 beings “And you….” (gentiles.))

2) Unity is not achieved by each of us striving to stay united, or striving to remain at peace. It is achieved by us all pressing into the Spirit. As long as we are in the Spirit, “…the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”

Great thoughts! I do believe many have long missed it on the verse about being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with the emphasis on building on certain ‘giftings’. The foundation of the apostles and prophets was Jesus Christ and the revelation that comes from the Spirit (Matt 16….Jesus told Peter he didn’t receive what he got from flesh & blood but a direct revelation from Father (Spirit) and He would build His church on this foundation). When the Spirit flows through anyone in the apostle or prophet that one will be building in Spirit, espousing to Christ and not themselves. Just a thought you brought to my mind as I read. Thanks! “BK”